The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-05-08

Chained.
"0h, God, forgive me. What have
| done?"
Instantly the yells of 10000 de.
mons resounded on every side. The
lightning flashed, and in the venge-
full, furious faces Of his tormentors
Loubat recognised that he was saved
The demon had overreached him
self, and in giving expression to his
gloating hate had painted such a
picture that his victim, in gazing on
it, cried aloud for mercy.
With loud crash the huge castle
fell apart. Loubat seized the picture,
and for the moment became insensi-
BILE. When he recovered the castle
was in ruins, but miraculously he
had escaped uDinjured. Finally he
recovered from bis illness, and when
he was able to move about he entered
The monastery, bringing the picture
with him.
Here he remained for several years
in prayer and fasting, and by his
works sought to atone for his past
misdeeds.
One night, shortly after retiring to
rest, the dreadful cry Of fire frel"
awakened him from his slumbers.
The monastery was in flames and the
monk found his retreat cut off by
the dense smoke and fire, which had
evidently originated in his apart
ment. Selling his dearly priced
picture, he rushed headlong through
the flames, and, fearfully scorched
and burned, gained the air and sank
exhausted on the ground. The
monks gathered around and the alb
bot knelt by his side. His hours
were numbered. Before breathing
his last he handed the picture to
the abbot and poured into his herri-
fed ear the tale of its conception.
Centuries passed, and in the whirl
of war and the fall of dynasties the
"Flagellation of Christ" was forgot
ten.
Loubat had long since been for
gotten, when the world was startled
one morning at the sensational
suicide of an Austrian Count, the
last OF the race of one of the noblest
families in the empire. For years
the vast estates had been squander-
ed, and when poverty and degreda-
ton stared him in the face the
profigate Count, unable to bear dis
grace, took his own life. Among the
few historic pictures that adorned
the walls was discovered the subject
Of this sketch, and it is a strange
fact that every family which has
since possessed it has come to grief
in somewhat similar manner.
When France was in her glory,
previous to the fearful scenes Of the
revolution, notable Prince, in
timately associated with the reign
ing King, became possessed of the
painting, and his blood mingled
with that of the royal Princes who
expiated the sins of themselves and
ancestors on the fatal guillotine, and
in the massacre and burning that
followed the "Flagella 'ionof Christ"
had several narrow escapes from be-
ing consumed by the flames.
But some strange fatality seemed
attached to it. Like the Wan
dering Jew" of old, it is apparently
destined to last to thesend of time,
carrying destruction in its path. For
years after the ascension of the first
Napoleon to the rulership of the
French Empire the picture was lost
sight of. 1t reappeared some years
later, however, in the family of one
of the old French counts, whose
name, for obvious reasons, is with
held. Twenty years ago, finding that
the various changes in the forms of
government Of France made life un-
certain for any member of noble
lineage, the count found harbor of
refuge in this country, bringing with
him the fated picture. He settled in
California, and with the remnant of
his shattered fortune purchased large
estates there. His countess was a
noble looking, benevolent lady, and
for a time all went well. The
last of the race, lad of 10 years,
romped and played in the full enjoy
ment of American liberty, and as
time wore on developed into hand
some youth.
But the sad fate that had apparent
ly followed every previous possession
of the "Flagellation OF Christ" was
destined to follow the fortunes of the
French Count, and one morning he
was discovered dead from stroke of
apoplexy. Immediately after his
death creditors never before heard
of poured in from every side. Mort
cages on the property there were in
abundance, and the countess found
want and beggary staring her in the
face. Little else besides the I'M
fortunate picture remained
The first shock over, the countess
and her son repaired to New York,
aud then began a series of lawsuits
that have long since been forgotten.
She desired to regain some of her
lost property, and contested nearly
all VI Iut CldluS. DuI MlGuOuJ ulOuGy
or friends the task was almost hope
less, until one enterprising lawyer
took up her case and prosecuted the
suits, holding as security for his
costs the famous picture. But the
suits were fruitle,s, the mortgages
held good, and abject poverty was
the grim specter left for her old age.
In the meantime her son. who had
become a man of q, became infatu-
ated with a pretty young girl Of this
city. He proposed marriage to her
and she reciprocated his love. An
engagement was the result. The
young count possessed the most ro-
but constitution up to that time, but
scarcely had the engagement been
entered upon than he began to slowly
pine away. The girl became infatu-
ated with the title and urged a
speedy marriage, but unavailingly.
The count was memorable, and he
refused to enter into the bonds OF
wedlock until he had regained his
former health.
He grew from bad to worse. Two
years rolled by, and the strong man
had changed into an emaciated
I III Il